Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-21
AN ASTRONOMERS REWARD.
The Watson Medal Presented by the
academy OF Sciences TO DR.. ID. A.
Gould.

me Na1onh Academy OF Sciences held special
session last evening at the National Museum.
ffoL u r. Marsh, the president In recognition OF
the importance OF the occasion, appeared on the
PLATFORM In full evening dress. with him sat Prof.
simon Newcomo, Prof. Asaph hall, Gen. Francis
A. walker and Prof. W. G. Farlon. The event OF
the evening was the presentation for the first
time OF the Watson gold medal.
President Marsh in bestow1ng the medal spoke
Ior some minutes, referring at first to the three
medals within the gift OF the academy for astro-
nomdcal WORK The Watson medal founded by
iate member OF the academy, was to be given as
recognition Of original labors in the way OF astro
any countfy and WAS open 70 inc SlI Gne o,
Two years In looking over the field he said the
o ose found among the members OF the
WORK as 70 distinguish him above all others. This
was Dr. B. A Gould, of Cambridge Dr. Gould, he
was SO famous for his recent work In the
soutnern hemisphere that many were likely to
loiget tne great services he had rendered to
astronomical science in earlier years. He gave
connection with the coast survey up to 1870 when
ne was invited to the Argentine Republic by the
Argentlne government to establish an observatory
Iuefe FOR nfteen years he had devoted his life to
the study OF the southern skies, his observations
ana the results being recorded In nineteen
work. MT. Marsh stated that the WORK Of cata.
iogung and charting the stars of the northern
hemisphere was undertaken twenty years ago by
1
Dr. Gould alone, beginning the work Later, had
aHeady accomplished for the southern hemisphere
the work these obServatOrieS had undertaken for
tne northern. For this great work. far beyond
That OF any other man, the committee awarded to
Or. Gould the first Watson medal DR.. Gould was
then called from his seat to the platform, and
there received the gold medal and the purse con-
tanning 800 In gold that accompanies il Gas
ward" Mr. Marsh said, ''for his vast services"
Dr. Gould, who was evidently somewhat embar-
raised 0y the encomiumS passed upon his work,
but, collecting himself, made happy response to
Presldent Marshs presentation speech There
was, he said, no body OF men, no tribunal or au-
thor1ty from whom he would esteem such pre-
sentauon so highly. Whatever might be his for
tune 10 accomplish In the future, he trusted that
IL would De such that the academy would have no
reason TO be ashamed OF it's award that evening.
DR.. Gould referred with feeling to his former inti
mate personal relations with Prof. Watson, the
founder OF the medal, and said he referred with
pride TO the fact that Prof. WatSonS nomination
To the academy originated with himself. He
deemed It somewhat strange that he should now
be the recipient OF medal founded by his friend.
In relation to his work in the southern hemisphere
DR.. Gould said that what had been ACCOMPLISHED
| there had been made possible by the generous
support OF the Argentine government.
The remainder OF the evening was devoted to the
reading OF obituary memoirs. Gen. Walker read a
eulOgy OF the late Prof. VIM B. Rogers. and Prof.
EarlOW q eulOgy of Prof Edward Tuckernan-